Study reveals: Belief in conspiracies and alternative medicine preferences influence attitudes towards cancer prevention

Study reveals: Belief in conspiracies and alternative medicine preferences influence attitudes towards cancer prevention

Findings from a study on attitudes and beliefs regarding cancer prevention among anti-vaxxers, flat earthers and reptilian conspiracy theorists

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal examined attitudes and beliefs about cancer prevention among people who reject coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations (anti-vaxxers), flat-earthers, and followers of reptilian conspiracy theories. Identifying factors that predispose people to cancer is the most important step in ensuring they adhere to cancer prevention guidelines. Difficulties arise in distinguishing actual causes of cancer from mythological causes due to the volume of data, not all of which is scientifically validated. In addition, data on vaccination attitudes or beliefs in conspiracy theories, such as the shape of the earth and reptiles, which are related to people's attitudes and beliefs about cancer prevention are limited.

About the study

In this cross-sectional survey-based study, researchers provided data for the first time on beliefs about the real and mythological causes of cancer based on vaccine preferences and conspiracy beliefs. Cancer prevention data was obtained mainly from the Spanish forum ForoCoches and other platforms such as 4Chan, Reddit, HispaChan, MediaVida, Taringa and Burbuja Info, as well as the Spanish-language website mejorsincancer.org between January and March 2022. Additionally, the survey was posted in Telegram groups whose titles included words like “Flat Earth,” “Reptilians,” and “Anti-Vaxxers.” Respondents who were not selected representatively online took part in the study. These included 209 people who had not received COVID-19 vaccinations, 112 people who preferred alternative medicine and 62 people who held reptilian or flat earth beliefs.

The study's primary outcome measures were cancer beliefs, assessed using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) and the CAM-Mythical Causes Scale (CAM-MYCS). The survey included questions about gender, age, nationality, country of residence, education level, occupation, preferences for traditional or alternative medicines, SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, height and weight, and personal cancer history.

Results

A total of 1,754 people took part in the survey. However, 14 responses showed similar scores for all cancer beliefs and were considered low quality and excluded from the analysis. Of the remaining participants, nine and 232 individuals were excluded who had missing data on COVID-19 vaccinations and cancer beliefs, respectively. In addition, five people and 57 people who did not answer all questions related to CAM or conspiracy theories were excluded. A total of 1,494 survey responses were included in the final analysis.

Full participants were more likely to be aged 25 to 44, of European descent and highly educated. Their data was primarily sourced from ForoCoches versus partial survey respondents. Among full participants, 14% (n=209) of people had not received COVID-19 vaccinations and 4.0% (n=62) were flat-earthers or followers of reptilian conspiracy theories. Additionally, 8.0% (n=112) of individuals preferred alternative medications over traditional medications.

Actual knowledge of cancer etiology was more significant compared to mythological knowledge (median CAM score 64% vs. 42%). The most recognized actual cancer etiologies included consumption of genetically modified foods or those with sweeteners or additives, as well as increased stress. Knowledge of the real and mythological causes of cancer among conspiracy theorists and unvaccinated people who preferred alternative medicines was lower compared to non-conspiracy believers, vaccinated people, and people who preferred traditional medicine. The median values ​​were 55.0% for the actual cancer etiologies correctly identified among the unvaccinated, those who preferred alternative medications, and the conspiracy theorists, and 64% for the actual cancer etiologies identified from the corresponding comparisons. The median values ​​were 25%, 17% and 17% for people who correctly identified mythological cancer etiologies, were unvaccinated, preferred alternative medications and believed in conspiracy theories, respectively. The median value was 42.0% for the identification of cancer etiologies [in the corresponding comparisons.

Among participants, 45% (n=673) of people said that cancer seems to be caused by everything. There were no statistically significant differences between those unvaccinated (44.0%), conspiracy believers (42.0%), or those who preferred alternative medications (36.0%) compared to their respective counterparts (45.0%, 46.0%, and 46.0%, respectively). Overall, the results of the study highlight the difficulties that society has in distinguishing between the real causes and the mythological causes of cancer due to the massive proliferation of data. Conspiracy believers, anti-vaxxers, and alternative medication advocates are more likely to support mythological cancer etiologies than their counterparts.

Overall, this study provides important insights into cancer prevention attitudes and beliefs among diverse groups. This information can be used to develop better cancer awareness and prevention strategies and to improve public health.

Reference:

Sonia Patyubi et al. BMJ 2022;379:e072561 | doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-072561